Things to know before visiting Meteora

Meteora is one of the most incredible places on our planet and I would say one of the most extraordinary places I have ever visited. I feel lucky that I had a chance to visit this amazing UNESCO World Heritage Site during my first visit to Greece. If you are heading to Greece I would recommend adding a visit to Meteora to your plan. Here are some things you should know before your trip to Meteora.

How to get to Meteora

Meteora is located in central Greece, around 360 km north of Athens, and it doesn’t have an airport, so flying directly to Meteora is not an option. The best thing to do is to get to Athens and then go from there. Another option could be flying to Thessaloniki which is around 200 km north-east of Meteora.

From Athens you can rent a car and drive all the way to Meteora, this probably would take around 4 hours, depending on the traffic. If driving 360 km is not something you fancy, but you would still like a road trip, you can take a bus to Kalambaka and from there go to Meteora. Depending on the bus you take you might need to change on the way there.

The other option, which is also the option we went for, is taking a train from Athens to Meteora. Greece railway system is not as developed as other parts of Europe, but the good news is that it’s improving. The train ride would take you around 5 hours. But you should keep in mind that trains in Greece are often delayed, so take that into account.

How long to stay

We arrived at Meteora around 2 pm and left the day after in the evening. We only stayed there one day and a half and rushed from place to place while taking advantage of a couple of tours. When we were about to leave I was sure that I could have stayed there more than just 2 days and explored the area much more.

Meteora has a lot to offer, including learning about its history, enjoying the scenery, strolling in nature, practicing sports especially rock climbing, eating delicious food and having some genuine fun. There is always something to do there, so make sure you are staying for at least 2 or 3 days.

Take tours

You can easily go around Meteora without taking an official tour. You can go for hiking or climbing without a guide, but being on at least one tour adds value to your trip, since you will learn a lot about the history of the area and you will have thorough explanations about some of the strange-looking rocks.

Where to stay

You can’t stay in Meteora, but there are two small towns: Kalambaka and Kastraki, right next to Meteora. Kastraki village is more residential, but you should still be able to find guesthouses or hotels there.

Most travellers and tourists stay in Kalambaka, where you can find various restaurants, hotels, and shops. We also stayed there and since we got the tour to go to Meteora, we were picked up and dropped off at our hotel.

What to wear

It doesn't really matter whether you are traveling by car or taking tours, you will still have to walk in the nature between the rocks, so it is essential to wear comfy clothes, especially comfortable shoes to hike and climb some stairs.

When you are in Meteora, visiting the monasteries is a must. The monasteries, same as other religious places have a special dress code, so make sure you are wearing respectful clothes. If you are a woman like me and wearing jeans, be ready to wear the provided skirts on top of them (they are available at the entrance of the monasteries).

Have your Camera with you

Get ready to be blown away by Meteora’s beauty. I am sure you are like me and want to capture all of the amazing things you will see there and share it with others. So don’t forget your camera and have it with a full battery and make sure you have space on your SD card because it is going to be full at the end of your trip!

Please let me know in a comment if you have already been to Meteora and what your thoughts are about this amazing place.

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Hi, I'm Mansoureh

Passionate traveller, I take any opportunity to explore the world. Here's where I share my adventures.